Pantry

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#6699CC" TEXT="#080000" background="42fb85a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >OkEatMe</FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OkEatMe"><B>home</B></A><B>      </B>back to  <A HREF="help_tips_fun.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Help Tips Fun"><B>Help Tips Fun</B></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="free_recipes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Free Recipes">Free Recipes</A>   |   <A HREF="recycling_directory.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recycling Directory">Recycling Directory</A>   |   <A HREF="help_tips_fun.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Help Tips Fun">Help Tips Fun</A>   |   <A HREF="contact_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us">Contact Us</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=250 BGCOLOR="#BBBBBB" TEXT="#080000" background="431fa043.gif"> <div> <A HREF="health_alerts.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Health Alerts">Health Alerts</A></div> <div> <B>Pantry</B></div> <div> <A HREF="food_storage.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Food Storage">Food Storage</A></div> <div> <A HREF="farmers_markets.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Farmers Markets">Farmers Markets</A></div> <div> <A HREF="local_buying.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Local Buying">Local Buying</A></div> <div> <A HREF="garlic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Garlic">Garlic</A></div> <div> <A HREF="vote.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vote">Vote</A></div> <div> <A HREF="cooking_tips.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cooking Tips">Cooking Tips</A></div> <div> <A HREF="reengineering_old_snacks.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="reEngineering Old Snacks">reEngineering Old Snacks</A></div> <div> <A HREF="fudge_club.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fudge Club">Fudge Club</A></div> <div> <A HREF="pc_diet.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PC Diet">PC Diet</A></div> <div> <A HREF="links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fun Web Links">Fun Web Links</A></div> <div> <A HREF="adams_chocolate.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adams Chocolate">Adams Chocolate</A></div> <div> <A HREF="new_recipes.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Recipes">New Recipes</A></div> <div> <A HREF="privacy_policy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</A></div> <div> <A HREF="user_agreement.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="User Agreement">User Agreement</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>What No Well Stocked Pantry Should Be Without</B></div> <bR> <div> Stock your pantry with the right cans and jars, and you'll never have to face the after-work crowd at the market again.</div> <bR> <div> Organizing Your Pantry, Didn't learn your lesson from Old Mother Hubbard?</div> <bR> <div> Stock your pantry with the right cans and jars, and you'll never have to face the after-work crowd at the market again.</div> <div> Having a well stocked pantry is only good if you know what you have and can find it easily.</div> <bR> <div> Though my pantry is just a narrow closet, I pack it full. Nearly half my recipes call for tomatoes, so one half-shelf contains every conceivable form -- whole, diced, sauce, juice, paste and pizza sauce.</div> <bR> <div> The rest of the canned vegetables go to the right of the tomatoes, most noticeably every kind of canned bean I can find.</div> <div> A well-stocked pantry can be a lifesaver.</div> <bR> <div> As well as being good fat replacers, you will have a lot more options when serving last-minute meals or dressing up leftovers.</div> <div> Here's what no pantry should be without:</div> <div> <B>Keep a supply of the following on hand:</B></div> <div> Mustards</div> <div> Flavored vinegars</div> <div> Chopped olives</div> <div> Canned salsa</div> <div> Canned tomatoes </div> <div> Canned tomato paste</div> <div> Canned diced green chiles</div> <div> Canned beans and legumes</div> <div> Canned tuna, clams and salmon</div> <div> Canned broth or bouillon</div> <div> Canned evaporated skim milk</div> <div> Dry soup mixes</div> <div> Instant mashed potatoes</div> <div> Sun-dried tomatoes</div> <div> Herbs - basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, rosemary, cilantro, dill, sage, marjoram</div> <div> Spices - red pepper, chili powder, cayenne pepper, curry powder, garlic powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, celery seed</div> <div> Extracts or flavorings - vanilla, banana, butter, almond, maple</div> <div> Teriyaki and soy sauces</div> <div> Salad dressings for salads and marinades</div> <div> Nuts</div> <div> Sesame seeds</div> <div> Cocoa powder</div> <div> Bottled minced garlic</div> <div> Parmesan cheese</div> <div> # 2 cans of tomatoes (1 large, 1 small)</div> <div> # 2 jars of spaghetti sauce</div> <div> # 2 boxes or bags of pasta</div> <div> # 8 cans Wholeberry Cranberry</div> <div> # 1 jar peanut butter</div> <div> # 1 bottle vegetable oil</div> <div> # 1 bottle Worcestershire sauce</div> <div> # 1 box brown sugar</div> <div> # 1 jar Mexican-style salsa</div> <div> # 1 box taco shells and/or 1 bag tortilla chips</div> <div> # 2 cans each of red, white and black beans</div> <div> # 1 bag Brown Rice</div> <div> # 10 cans of Vegetables</div> <div> If you have some onions, garlic and cheese, you can now eat reasonably well for at least three nights.</div> <bR> <div> <B>ways to make the most of inexpensive ingredients</B></div> <div> <B>how_to_save_on_groceries</B></div> <div> Everyone's pinching pennies these days, but that doesn't mean you can't still feast.</div> <div> We're sharing our favorite ways to make the most of inexpensive ingredients.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rice</B></div> <div> Bring a bit of pizzaz to plain white rice by subbing in fruit juice or broth for some or all of the water.</div> <div> Or, add a little texture to the mix with basmati, jasmine, Arborio or different mixes of wild rice.</div> <div> You don't have commit to a mega-sized sack of it.</div> <div> Just head over to your local health or international food store;</div> <div> they usually sells grains in bulk, so you can mix, match, and buy as much or as little as you'd like, often for just pennies.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Boxed Mac & Cheese</B></div> <div> We like to amp up the tangy factor with a couple of spoonfuls of mustard, and a pinch of nutmeg if there's some on hand. Crumble some crackers or breadcrumbs over top and call it a "macaroni gratin." And if you're caught short on milk, don't fret. Sub in half the quantity of milk with water, or just use extra butter.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Dried Pasta</B></div> <div> Doll up your pasta with this easy cheese sauce. Just melt one tablespoon of butter in a saucepan over low heat and gradually whisk in one tablespoon of flour and a small pinch of salt. Stir this paste together for 2-3 minutes, and slowly pour in  cup of milk, stirring constantly until it's thickened. Then stir in two grated tablespoons of your favorite cheese. Or skip the cheese and whisk in handful of chopped herbs, a sprinkle of nutmeg, seasoned salt, sauteed garlic, or even chunks of fresh tomato to make it a "pink" sauce. You can also skip sauce entirely and go with a drizzle of butter or olive oil, a pinch of kosher salt and a pinch of snipped herbs.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Canned Tuna</B></div> <div> Tuna is packed with lean protein and omega-3, and all that goodness doesn't have to be undone by a tidal wave of mayo. Opt for the water-packed variety, and toss it with tomatoes, a vinaigrette dressing and wild rice or over lettuce for a fresh, flavored-packed salad. Mix it with a dash of olive oil, olive slices and hard boiled eggs for a nicoise-like sandwich filling, or sub it in for the beef or other meats in pot pies and pasta recipes.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Canned Soup</B></div> <div> Bulk up canned soup with a handful of quick-cooking rice, or pre-cooked pasta. Veggies may cost a pretty penny at the grocery store these days, so seek out your local farmers market or food co-op and pick a few sweet peppers, local tomatoes, squash or eggplant and roast the slices with a little bit of olive oil in your oven. They'll make even plain old tomato soup taste like a million bucks.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Frozen Pizza</B></div> <div> Speaking of home-roasted veggies, they're perfect for making a store-bought frozen cheese pizza taste like take-out. You can also sprinkle on a bit of grated cheese and diced, sautéed or roasted garlic. Fresh herbs can also deepen the flavor. Pick up a few pots at your local nursery or grow them from seed on a sunny windowsill. Both options are quite inexpensive, and you'll always have the very freshest herbs on hand</div> <bR> <div> <B>Whole Chicken</B></div> <div> Learn how to cut up a whole bird, and you'll never shell out for chicken breasts again. Get serious bang for your buck by using the bones to make rich, delicious chicken stock to use as a base for soups and stews. It tastes much better than the canned stuff, and it can be frozen in an ice cube tray for use whenever you need it.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Eggs</B></div> <div> Break out of your culinary shell and learn to make quiche or a savory tortilla espanola. They're simple to make, filling, and elegant at any meal. And while you're at it, expand your repertoire of egg techniques. Have you ever coddled, shirred or pickled eggs</div> <bR> <div> <B>Potatoes</B></div> <div> Is there anything these tubers can't do? We love 'em whipped, mashed, baked and boiled, but we're especially fond of rosti potatoes, the aforementioned tortilla espanola, and most of all a big, bubbling pot of potato soup. Bring on the cold weather!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Beans</B></div> <div> Dried or canned, beans are a classically simple source of protein. Beans and rice are an inexpensive and delicious staple dish in cultures the world over. They're also a surefire way to stretch a soup, stew or chili, and a great addition to almost any cold salad.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Lentils</B></div> <div> In a curry, stew, soup or pilaf, lentils add a nutty note and bring along a bounty of healthy benefits.</div> <div> Unlike beans, their legume cousins, they don't require soaking, and most varieties cook quite quickly.</div> <div> Sub them for meat in Indian and Asian dishes, toss into salads, or mash 'em into a delicious dip. For maximum value, trying buying them in bulk at a health food store or co-op. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Oatmeal</B></div> <div> Who says cinnamon and sugar are the only ways to go with oatmeal?</div> <div> We like to start the day in a savory way, adding a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and a dash of hot sauce.</div> <div> Or, if we're feeling a tad sweet, we'll go with grapes, or a swirl of peanut butter.</div> <div> It's a cheap, filling, and oh so satisfying way to start the day.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>